A CAR crash between Okehampton and Hatherleigh in October last year left a 32-year-old motorcyclist from Sticklepath dead, an inquest heard yesterday.
Jason McCaffrey died from multiple injuries after his 1,000cc Yamaha motorbike collided with a Ford Escort driven by Muriel Brinkley which was turning right at Lamerton Cross.
The inquest at Okehampton heard from witnesses that it had been a dry, clear day with good visibility where the road layout was such that vehicles coming from both ways would have been clearly identifiable.
In a statement read to the inquest witness Andrew Goodman said the Ford Escort was in front of him as he travelled in the direction of Hatherleigh that day and the driver indicated to turn right and moved into the centre lane.
He said he was aware of the motorcyclist travelling in the opposite direction because of the 'very quick' speed of the bike, which caused him to remark to his girlfriend in the passenger seat.
Mr Goodman said within a second or two of passing the junction, he heard a large bang and without looking he knew what had happened.
Eileen Gold from Hatherleigh, who was a passenger in the Ford Escort, said Mrs Brinkley, who also lived locally, frequently used the junction at Lamerton Cross.
Mrs Gold said she suddenly became aware of the motorcyclist coming towards them as her friend started to turn right and the next thing she heard was a large bang.
In a police interview Mrs Brinkley said she could not remember seeing any other traffic on the road as she turned into the junction.
The motorcyclist was thrown across the bonnet of the car and into the grass verge.
Resuscitation attempts were made at the scene but he later died at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
The inquest heard that there were no defects which could have caused or contributed to the accident.
Exeter traffic officer MPC Rodney Shephard said the visibility on that road was extensive.
'The approach of the motorcycle should have been visible to the car driver and the position of the car should have been visible to the motorcyclist,' he said.
Mr Shephard said there was evidence of emergency braking by Mr McCaffrey which suggested he expected the car to wait to turn until he had passed.
Great Devon Coroner Richard van Oppen recorded a verdict of accidental death.